After graduating from college in 1973, Tanya Klasser taught Language Arts and Social Studies to sixth, seventh and eighth graders at Cooper Upper Grade Center in Pilsen (now Orozco Community Academy) until 1983. During her time at Cooper, Tanya also served as a Team Leader for one of the four units in this school.

In 1983, Tanya went to the Maria Saucedo Community Academy in Little Village. For three years she taught in self-contained seventh grade classrooms.  In 1986, Tanya became Saucedo’s Reading Coordinator.  A few years later she assumed the position of Curriculum Coordinator. During her tenure at Saucedo, Tanya worked closely with Karen Morris, the principal, who also became one of the founders of SLI.

Tanya retired from Chicago Public Schools in 2002 and since then she has been working with Strategic Learning Initiatives as a Professional Development Facilitator.